Member Owned: Fundamentals of the Cooperative Model

Continental Breakfast/Registration - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Program begins at 9:00 a.m.

Cooperatives are member-owned, member-driven businesses and with almost 2 million members nationally and gross business volume over $200 billion annually, they play a key role in agricultural supply chains.

Learn about the co-op business model and principles, current trends in agricultural cooperatives, and the roles of co-op member-owners and leaders in this interactive training by the CFAES Center for Cooperatives at The Ohio State University on behalf of the Mid America Cooperative Council (MACC).

Topics Include:

• What is an agricultural cooperative (“co-op”)?

• Overview and history of agricultural co-ops

• Cooperative Principles

• Comparison to other structures (LLCs, Corporations, Partnerships, Sole Proprietorships)

• Advantages and limitations of Co-ops

• Why does agriculture use the co-op structure?

• What does it mean to own or be a member of a co-op?

• Role of co-op directors, management, and employees

• Governance of cooperatives

Following the core training, Todd Hoppe (General Counsel for Michigan Sugar Company and Michigan Milk Producers Association/Partner, Foster Swift Law Firm) will present on the legal rights of Co-op members.

HOSTED BY:

Michigan Milk Producers Association

MACMA

Greenstone Farm Credit Services

Michigan Farm Bureau

Foster Swift Law Firm

Farm Bureau Insurance Company

Michigan Pork Producers Association